Zydrunas Savickas - The Strongest Man in the World in 2005 - Quebec, Canada 25 September 2005

Even if Savickas thrashed three world records en route, it still came down to a nail-biting finale in the MHP Stones of Strength before the 2005 IFSA Strongman World Champion could be named. Mathematically, any of the top five before the last event could have clinched the most coveted title in the 2005 Strongman calendar (Savickas, Virastyuk, Koklyaev, Murumets and Bergmanis). Savickas, however, was in no mood to finish his third year as a runner-up in the Worlds, and sprinted through the Stone Circle in just over 31 seconds, ending third in that event and beating last year's World Champion, Virastyuk, by an overall 7 point margin.

The Day Two of the Championships saw overall the more athletic men come to the fore, as the disciplines were more dynamic. Murumets started the day by winning the Farmers' Walk just one second short of the world record held by Magnus Samuelsson, and Schzpanski set the new world record in Shield Walk with his cool 100m. Both Murumets and Schzpanski are lighter and more athletically built strongmen. Later in the day Samuelsson was doing some succession planning: the "Stone King" finished second in the stones behind spirited young Ortmayer. Samuelsson has been Ortmayer's idol for long, and it was an emotional moment for Ortmayer to edge the master.
But the day belonged to Savickas, who did his third world record in two days by yanking up the standardised Apollon's Axle an impressive eight times. The big Lithuanian section of the audience was extatic as their hero paraded the stadium waving the flag. In static strength events many now suggest he could be the strongest that ever lived. But those with an eye for the future could not help but to notice the affable "Misha" Koklyaev in the podium in only his fourth international Strongman competition...

Szchpanski tore his bicep in the axle, Geoff almost completely lost his finger in the stones and went out on an ambulance, I tore up my shoulder in the warm up for the log and only did 6 of the 8 events, Lotta became ill went out in an ambulance and had to retire the second day, Svend hurt his knee and retired after three events. Savikas and Vasil were very good. Phil battled hard and did real well in the conan's wheel and was very strong in the axle. Travis was very good in the stones for new world record and I hit 705 for 7 in the deadlift for a new PR. Very brutal contest and very well organized. Canada was a great place to hold the event!

All 8 events were heavy and unforgiving. I have never wanted a medley so bad in my life!!!
This was a fantastic contest. I have never seen so many top competitors in one place and every one of them was in the best shape I have ever seen or heard of them being in (with the exception of Karl and his dislocated shoulder). I have seen the competition and next year I will be on the podium.

__________________
Travis Ortmayer
"If you want to be world class you must first act world class."